THE SURGEON AND THE SHEPHERD: Two Resistance Heroes in Vichy France

During a hiking trip in the French Pyrenees in 1983, Ostrum stumbled upon a remarkable story of resistance to the Nazis. Now, two decades later, Ostrum, an arts consultant who has edited volumes of oral history, relies on oral histories to assemble the story of Dr. Charles Schepens, a Belgian eye surgeon who left Brussels early in the war and joined the Resistance. He moved to the Basque country and, using the pseudonym Perot, rebuilt a saw mill that he used as a front to transport both cargo and people to safety in Spain. One of his fellow conspirators was Jean Sarochar, an eccentric shepherd known for his loquaciousness and his storytelling. The author recounts how the two (and others) worked as members of the Resistance and then, when their scheme was uncovered by the Nazis, worked to save Schepens's life. Ostrum shows how war makes strong friendships, and how people, whether considered by others to be strong (the surgeon) or weak (the shepherd) can rise to the occasion. Their compelling tale is only part of the story, as themes of class, modernity and deceit are handled gracefully by the author. Ostrum also focuses on historical background—of the players and of the Basque region itself. In essence, this is as much anthropology as it is history, but whatever one may call it, Ostrum has created a compelling work of 20th-century European history. It makes an unusual diptych with another dramatic tale of Belgian resistance, The Twentieth Train, by Marion Schreiber (Forecasts, Dec. 8). 27 photos, 3 maps not seen by PW . (Mar.)